Measures reviewed for the development of Samarkand region’s districts through specialization

Following the President’s visit to the Samarkand region last December, key priorities for the region's socio-economic development in 2026 were identified, with an additional $100 million allocated to support their implementation. During his visit to Narpay district this March, the Head of State instructed officials to develop remote and hard-to-reach areas based on tailored approaches.

The meeting reviewed progress in implementing these instructions, using the districts of Bulungur, Narpay, Akdarya, Pakhtachi, Koshrabad, and Kattakurgan, as well as the city of Kattakurgan, as examples.

Despite relatively high population density in these areas, opportunities for high-income employment remain limited. The districts of Narpay, Koshrabad, Pakhtachi, and Kattakurgan, together with the city of Kattakurgan, account for only 10 percent of the region's industrial output. At the same time, unemployment and poverty levels in Narpay, Pakhtachi, and Pastdargom districts and the city of Kattakurgan remain higher than in other parts of the region.

In this regard, taking into account the potential of each district, proposals were presented to develop these territories through sector-specific specialization. In particular, Bulungur, Koshrabad, Pakhtachi, and Kattakurgan districts will be developed as centers of agriculture, livestock farming, and horticulture. In Bulungur district, a breeding farm with an annual capacity of 100,000 head of livestock is planned to be established through a $50 million investment. In Koshrabad and Akdarya districts, enterprises for breeding chicks with an annual production capacity of 800,000 birds are planned to be launched through $20 million in investment.

Narpay district and the city of Kattakurgan will become growth points for industry and the service sector. In particular, a 100-hectare industrial zone will be established in Narpay district, where projects for the production of high value-added products will be launched. Total investment will amount to $500 million. It is planned to attract 10 major Japanese companies to this process.

Akdarya district will be developed as a territory specializing in poultry farming, the textile industry, and agricultural product processing.

The meeting reviewed projects aimed at reducing unemployment and poverty by 3 percent and 2 percent, respectively, in Narpay, Pakhtachi, and Pastdargom districts and the city of Kattakurgan, increasing exports by 20 percent in Ishtikhon, Narpay, Nurabad, Pakhtachi, Koshrabad, and Kattakurgan districts, and doubling the volume of services and industrial production in Bulungur, Narpay, Nurabad, Payarik, Pakhtachi, Koshrabad, and Kattakurgan districts, as well as the city of Kattakurgan.

Particular attention was paid to the further expansion of Samarkand region’s tourism potential.

Since the beginning of the year, the number of foreign tourists visiting Uzbekistan has increased by 27.3 percent, reaching 5.4 million. Uzbekistan has set ambitious targets to increase the number of foreign tourists to 20 million and tourism service exports to $10 billion. The President emphasized that achieving these goals would require expanding the network of new tourist routes and service facilities in the regions, helping to extend visitors' stays.

To this end, an initiative to transform 13 streets in the historic center of Samarkand into pedestrian zones, along with the creation of new tourism and service facilities, was supported.

Proposals were also presented to expand the territory of the Okhalik-Okbuyro-Mironkul tourist and recreational zone. The meeting also considered plans to improve and landscape the area along the Shaar collector opposite the Imam Maturidi Memorial Complex.

Through the implementation of these measures in the city of Samarkand and the Nurabad and Samarkand districts, targets have been set to increase the number of hotels to 850, expand accommodation capacity to 20,000 beds, and raise the volume of tourism services to $750 million.

The meeting emphasized that creating infrastructure to ensure comfortable living conditions for the population remains a crucial task. For this purpose, it was proposed to allocate 1.2 trillion soums for the construction of social facilities, improvement of roads, water supply and sewage networks, electricity infrastructure, implementation of service and renovation projects, and provision of infrastructure for industrial projects.

As part of the renovation program in Samarkand, the President instructed officials to approve within one month a master plan for transforming the Kimyogarlar settlement into a comfortable residential area. He also set the task of expanding the territory of the Yangi Uzbekistan residential area under construction in Bulungur district and establishing sports, cultural, music, and arts facilities by the end of the year on vacant land and in buildings located along the railway in Samarkand city.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev approved the establishment of a fund under the regional khokimiyat for the construction and repair of social facilities. It was decided that funds saved through the implementation of socio-economic development programs in Samarkand region would be directed to this fund.

The meeting heard reports from responsible officials. The Head of State issued specific instructions to fully utilize the existing potential of each district in Samarkand region, create new jobs, increase incomes, and reduce economic disparities between territories.